A few years ago when Wazzu men's basketball coach Tony Bennett signed a big group of athletes including Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill to come to a then-struggling program, he had hoped they would be the core of what would eventually be a successful, program-changing run into the NCAA tournament. At the time, it was a far-fetched vision, but it after years of hard work and dedication to his father and WSU head coaching predecessor Dick Bennett's system of play - the Cougars found themselves in the Big Dance last year with that very group of players - as juniors - perhaps one year ahead of schedule.

Bennett hopes to continue that transition to success with another big group of athletes who signed their national letters of intent with Washington State University today and, ironically, it was last year's successful NCAA run that helped Bennett land this current fivesome.

"As a whole, obviously we're encouraged and excited about bringing them in, they're very similar to our current group of seniors," says Bennett. "Last year's season allowed us to get involved with some of these young men. Nick Witherill committed to us before last season but all the others committed after."